Table of Contents
  1. 1. The Rams offense is a fantasy friggin goldmine.
  2. 2. The RB position is RIPE with BUY-LOW opportunities.
  3. 3. Jahmyr Gibbs moves into the high-end RB2 conversation.
  4. 4. Garrett Wilson is a baller but SELLING HIGH is the move.
  5. 5. D’Andre Swift’s talent was on full display in his first start.
  6. 6. Brian Robinson is DOMINATING the ground game in Washington.
  7. 7. Khalil Herbert’s role expanded significantly in Week 2.
  8. 8. Zack Moss took over the Colts backfield in his return.
  9. 9. I was WRONG about Michael Pittman — he is a target machine.
  10. 10. Mike Evans and Baker Mayfield are VIBING.
  11. Utilization Bytes:

Volume is king in fantasy football, and this report will help you understand which players are due more or less according to their roles. Based on historical data tied to metrics we know drive volume, it is a great way to understand who is over-performing (sell high) and underperforming (buy low).

  • Overall offense: Which teams are enabling winning volume and efficiency across game scripts
  • Quarterbacks: How involved is each QB in the running game, and who is unlocking upside for their weapons
  • Running backs: Which backs are handling early downs, short yardage, and passing downs
  • Tight ends: Who is running enough routes and meeting critical targets per route run (TPRR) thresholds
  • Receivers: Which receivers are in the most routes and operating broadly within the offense

ICYMI: You can now visualize ALL of our utilization data in one place, thanks to our NEW Utilization Hub.

From game logs and historical stats to team trends, we've put the power of utilization data in your hands. Read on to see the new tool in action…

1. The Rams offense is a fantasy friggin goldmine.

There isn’t a bigger story in fantasy than what is happening in Los Angeles. Three players who went undrafted in most fantasy leagues are taking the NFL by storm.

  • Puka Nacua is the WR2
  • Kyren Williams is the RB2
  • Tutu Atwell is the WR15

Bursting onto the scene against the Seahawks was impressive, but delivering big results in Week 2 against the 49ers tells us this team is for real. Yes, teams will adjust to the Rams' attack, but all three players (plus Stafford) deserve significant upgrades in their rest-of-season outlook.

Puka Nacua

Nacua’s 39% target share is the highest in the NFL after two weeks. Over the last 10 years, the WRs who reached a 37% or higher target share over the first two weeks have faired well for the season.

  • 2017: DeAndre Hopkins (48%) – WR2 (points per game)
  • 2013: Vincent Jackson (45%) – WR17
  • 2017: Jarvis Landry (44%) – WR4
  • 2018: Julio Jones (42%) – WR4
  • 2014: Jordy Nelson (41%) – WR4
  • 2013: DeSean Jackson (39%) – WR12
  • 2014: Andre Johnson (39%) – WR28
  • 2021: Cooper Kupp (38%) – WR1
  • 2022: Cooper Kupp (38%) – WR1
  • 2018: Michael Thomas (38%) – WR6
  • 2021: Deebo Samuel (38%) – WR3
  • 2019: Michael Thomas (37%) – WR1

Those are some big-time names, but that is the world we live in, and we must adjust quickly.

Outlook: Nacua UPGRADES to a low-end WR1 until Kupp returns. Upon Kupp’s return, if Nacua is still going strong, he will drop into the WR2 range, and we will reevaluate.

Kyren Williams

Williams had a strong showing in Week 1 with a top-eight finish on 18 points but ceded much of the ground game to Cam Akers, who handled 56% of the attempts.

However, in Week 2, Akers was a healthy scratch, opening the door for a more prominent role for Williams.

RB Rams

Williams bogarted 78% of the rushing attempts and registered an 80% route participation on his way to an electric 28 points. With Akers on the trade block, we shouldn’t look at Williams’ performances as short-lived — this utilization has staying power.

Since 2012, running backs that handled at least 60% of attempts along with a 65%-plus route participation have SMASHED, averaging 21.9 points per game. The average finish for the group was RB5.

Williams is only 194 pounds, so we could see the team try to work in another back, but the Rams could also lean into the passing game and play to Williams’ strengths in the passing game.

We will slightly temper expectations for now, but the second-year RB is still worthy of a significant move up the rest-of-season ranks.

Outlook: Williams UPGRADES to mid-range RB2 status. He is available in 38% of leagues and should be your No. 1 priority if there. In FAAB leagues, he is worth 90%-plus.

Tutu Atwell

The former Round 2 NFL Draft selection is enjoying a breakout campaign in his third season, but it’s going a little under the radar due to the success of Nacua and Williams. Last season, he showed signs of life at the end of 2022 and is picking up where he left off with a WR3-worthy 19% target share and a WR2-worthy 29% air yards share.

Atwell handles more intermediate and deep route duties (12.9 aDOT), while Nacua patrols the underneath and intermediate zones. When Kupp returns, we could see Atwell displace Van Jefferson as the deep threat.

Outlook: Atwell UPGRADES to a mid-range WR3 until Kupp returns. He will be a WR4 with spike-week upside if he claims Jefferson’s role with Kupp back in the lineup.

Matthew Stafford

Stafford is only rostered in 35% of Yahoo! leagues and is also available in most high-stakes formats. While he hasn’t exploded in the box score yet, the improved weapons provide an upside we didn’t realize existed for the 2023 season.